Vending-machine.



4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. A. VANDIVER. VENDING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 4, l9 05.

Inventor Ait orngy's Lash A. Viz/Mimi" PATENTED MAY '7, 1907.

. VAN DIVER.

L.'A VBNDIN APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1905.

G MACHINE.

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J57 Jiwlzie Alf am] lnventor Witnesses Attorneys THE mmms FETER S (50., WASHINGTON, p, c.

PATBNTED' MAY 7, 1907.

' L. A. VANDIVER,

VENDING MAHHIINE. APPLICATION FILED AUGA, 1905. v

4 SHEETS-SHEETB.

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No. 858,194; PATENTED MAY '7, 1907.

L.- A. VANDIVBR. VENDING MAGHINE. APPLICATION IILED' AUGA, 1905.

I 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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lnvntbr I Attorneys Z66ZZ6 AVa NrTEn S'IAES LESLIE ASBURY VANDIVER, OF HANNIBAL, MISSOURI, ASSIGN OR OF ONE- FOURTH TO JOHN IV. VANDIVER, OF HAGERS GROVE, MISSOURI, AND ONE-FOURTH TO ROBERT H. VISGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1907.

Application filed August 4,1905. Serial No. 272,736.

To all Ili/Mfllb it TI'I/II/Z/ concern.

Be it known that I, LESLIE AsBURY VAN- DIVER, a citizen of the United States, resid- This invention relates to vending machines,

and is intended principally for the vending of cigars, cigarettes, or other small articles.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a machine in which the cigars may be sold from the original box, the whole of the box being employed as a receptacle or reservoir from which the cigars are delivered one by one.

A further object of the invention is to con struct a machine of this type that may be quickly adjusted for the reception of cigar boxes of any size in ordinary use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a delivery mechanism which may be operated with minimum risk of breakage of cigars, and further to so arrange the delivery mechanism as to render it impossible for more than a single article to be delivered at each operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pivotally mounted delivery member having a receiving slot or opening that is movable to alternately communicate with the reservoir and with a final discharge opening, and to so arrange the device that the article being delivered will serve in part to maintain the remaining articles in the reservoir.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for agitating the contents of the reservoir in order to direct the articles toward the delivery mechanism.

WVith these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a vending machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the machine on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the pivotally mounted delivery member and the slide 00- acting therewith. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View of a portion of the machine on the line 55 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the inclined floor of the magazine, showing in dotted lines the position to which the floor is moved when the delivery mechanism is pulled to the front. Fig.

7 is a similar view, showing in dotted lines the position to which a portion of the floor is moved when the delivery mechanism is returning to initial position. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of a portion of the machine, illustrating particularly the coin controlled mechanism. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of the same on the line 99 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine looking from the right of Fig. 8, parts being broken away in order to more clearly illustrate the construction. Fig. 11 is a detail perspective View illustrating portions of the reservoir.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The various workingparts of the machine are inclosed within a suitable casing 10, having at the front a transparent panel 11 through which the contents of the magazine or reservoir may be observed, and at the adapted to receive a nickel.

The casing may .be of any suitable construction, and is shown in the present in-' stance as provided with a hinged top 19 and hinged back20, these two members being held together by a suitable lock 21 which, when opened, will permit the opening of the case for the removal of an empty box, and

the insertion of a fresh box. ing is a frame including a pair of side plates 22, connected at intervals by a'number of cross bars 23, and these side plates are provided with horizontally disposed grooves which serve as supports for a slidable delivery plate 26.

The plate 26 may be formed of sheet metal or other material, and at its opposite sides are arranged downwardly extending flanges 27 that are exposed at points outside the frame plates 22, and are provided with coin rests of the construction hereinafter described, the coin rests moving with the slide at each operation of the latter. further provided with a slot 29 through which the articles may fall to a chute 30 leading to the trough 13. The slot is disposed in a plane oblique to the plane of movement of the side, and is, arranged to coact with a pivotally mounted delivery member 43 for effooting the discharge of the articles. The front end of the slide is connected to a rod 31, extending out through a suitable guiding opening in the front of the casing and carrying the pull knob 12, and coiled around the knob is helical compression spring 32 which serves to return the slide and knob to initial position after the latter is released.

At a point above the slide 26, and extending transversely of the machine is a bar 33, said bar having end flanges 34, and both flanges carry pins 35, one set of pins being adapted to enter openings 36 formed in one of the side plates, so that the vertical distance between the bar and slide will be adjusted. The opposite set of pins extend into slides 38 formed in the oppositeside plate, and said plate is further provided with a slide 39 for the passage of a locking screw 40 which engages in a threaded opening in one of the flanges 34, and this serves as a means for positively locking the bar in any position to which it may be adjusted. This adjustment, as will hereinafter appear, is for the purpose of permitting the delivery of cigars or other articles of different diameter.

At a point midway between the ends of the bar 33 is an opening for the reception of a stud or pin 42 which is secured to a delivery member 43 that is formed by a pair of plates 44 and 45, each having a downturned flange 46, the space between the flanges forming a delivery slot which is movable from a position below the reservoir to a position in alinement. with the slot 29, and any article received in the slot 47 from the reservoir will, when moved into alinement with the slot 29, fall to the delivery chute 30. The two plates 44 and are provided with overlapping end portions 48, and at their ends are adjustably connected, each member carrying a threaded pin 49 which extends through an opening formed in a lug 50 on the opposite member, and the threaded portion of the pin receives Within the cas- The slide is a nut 51 which may be adjusted to vary the width of the slot 47. Surrounding each pin is a spring 52 which maintains the slot of the full width permitted by the adjustment of the nuts 51.

The slide 26 is provided with a vertically extending lug 55 that is arranged to one side of the pivoted stud 42, and, when the slide is pulled forward, this lug engages against the rear face of the flange 46 of plate 44 and turns the delivery plate with the stud 42 as an axis, causing the slot 47 to turn as the slot 29 advances toward the front of the machine, and when the two slots are in alinement, the article contained in the slot 47 will fall through the slot 29 to the delivery chute.

In order to return the plate to its initial position, a torsion spring 56 is mounted on the stud 42, one end of the spring being firmly secured to the stud, and the opposite end to the plate. This spring moves the plate to initial position at the completion of each delivery operation, and the movement is stopped by the engagement of one of the flanges 46 with a fixed stop pin 57 carried by one of the plates 22.

The reservoir or magazine is formed in the presentinstance by a cigar box which may be removed when empty, and another box placed in position. This box is supported by a carrier so constructed as to permit compliance with the law requiring cigars to be sold from the original box, and in carrying out the invention one of the'ends of the box is re moved and placed within the carrier in such manner as to form the lower portion of the rear wall of the magazine, and then the box is inserted in the holder with the open end downward, while the cover of the box, displaying the trade name or label, is exposed to view, so that the intending purchaser may be informed. of the character of the goods. This holder is further made adjustable so that boxes of twenty-five, fifty or one hundred cigars may be placed in. position in the 'machine, and provision is, also, made for adjustment in accordance with the size and shape of the boxes and the size and shape of the cigars.

The two side walls 60 of the holder are of similar construction. Each side of the holder is formed of two plates 62 and 63 that are spaced from each other by a filling piece 64 for a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the material and from which cigar boxes are usually made. The upper portion of the outer plate 63 is bent inward forming a flange 65 that supports the bottom or, in the vertical position, the rear wall of a cigar box, and between this flange and the rear edge of the inner plate 62 is a space also equal to the thickness of the cigar box material. The fllling piece 64 does not extend up to the top of the inner plate 62, so that a recess is formed for the reception of'the side of the box and the usual fabric hinge of the box lid is slid topermit the entrance of the upper edge of one of the plates 63 when the lid is folded back to expose the open front of the box. The inner plate 62 is formed in. two sections 62 and 62 that are spaced from each other by a vertical groove 66 arranged for the reception of one of the end walls of the cigar box, this end being removed before the box is placed in position, and constituting the rear wall of the reservoir, so that all portions of the box are employed for the formation of the reservoir, and the cigars are thus sold from the originalbox. The rear section 62 is rigidly secured to a transversely extending plate 67, the upper edge of which is beaded for the reception of a cross bar 69, that extends through suitable openings formed in the side walls of the holder, and the two plates 67 extending, respectively, from the walls of the holder are arranged to overlap and mutually guide each other.

The two walls of the holder are connected by a plurality of cross bars 69, 7 0', 71 and 72, and these bars pass freely through open ings formed in the wall in order to permit ready adjustment of the side walls in accordance with the width of the cigar box to be placed in position.

The two bars and 71 are arranged in vertical alinement with each other and pass through horizontally disposed slots 73 formed in the side walls to permit adjust ment of the openings between said bars and the slot 66, and these bars further pass through openings formed in plates 74 arranged at the inner faces of the plate 62. Each plate 74 has a plurality of openings 75 for the passage of a securing screw 7 6m or der to permit adjustment of the plates and the locking of the latter in position. .he two bars 70 and 71 are connected to each other by a series of vertically disposed bars 77, these constituting the front wall of the passage leading to the delivery devices, the rear walls of said passage being formed by the end of the cigar box held in the slots 66, and by the adjustment described the width of the passage may be altered in accordance with the diameter of the cigars.

Pivoted on the upper bar 70 is a grating formed of a plurality of spaced bars or wires, the rear ends of which are connected by a transversely extending bar 81, and this grat ing as a whole may be swung with the bar 7 O as a center between the positions shown in full and in dotted lines in Fig. 6. When at rest, the bars 80 are supported by a cross bar 72.

Secured to the under side of the bars 80 is a transversely extending bar 83, to which is pivoted a second grating formed of bars or wires 84 that alternate with the bars 83, the lower ends of the bars 84 passing over the bar 70 and being curved on arcuate lines struck from the center of the bar 83. The several bars 84 are connected to each other by a cross bar 85 which, by engagement with the bars 80, limits upward movement of the bars 84, the two limits of such movement being shown in full and in dotted lines in Fig. 7.

In order to operate the two sets of bars or gratings, which constitute agitating devices for the contents of the reservoir, the slide 26 is provided with a vertically disposed lug which is arranged to engage with an approxi mately V-shaped spring strip 91, one end of which is rigidly secured to the upper portions of the bars 80,- while the lower rear end of the strip is rigidly secured to one or more of the downwardly projecting ends of the bars 84. This spring tends normally to hold the bars 84 down in the full line positions shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

When the slide 26 is pulled out, the lug 90 riding against the front face of the strip 9]. will raise the bars 80 from the full line position shown in Fig. 6 to the dotted line position shown in the same figure, thus slightly agitating the cigars, and on passing beyond the strip the bars 80 will drop to the initial position. On the reverse movement of the slide the lug 90 engages against the front face of the strip 91, and the bars 84 are moved from the full line position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 to the dotted line position in Fig. 7, again agitating the cigars, so that constant feed of the cigars in the direction of the dis charge passage is insured. In order to permit adjustment of the sides of the holder, the width of the two gratings is limited, and the inner side plates 62 are provided with inwardly extending inclined 'flanges ar ranged in the same general plane as the bars 80 and serving as guides for the cigars, and at the same time preventing accidental dropping thereinto of any cigar should the latter be moved from normal position.

In order to prevent the escape of the cigars from the open front of the box, a grating 97 composed of spaced wires is placed over the front of the box and held in place in any suitable manner, as by flexible straps 98,

passing around the box, and the outer of these bars are arranged. to enter openings 98 formed in the flanges 95 in order to positively prevent the displacement of the grating and. accidental discharge of the cigars.

, In the operation of the mechanism as thus far described, it will be seen that on exerting outward stress on the knob 12, the slide 26 will be pulled forward against the stress of the spring 32, and in moving the lug 55, will engage the rearmost flange 46 of the pivoted discharge member, a cigar being in position in the slot 47 and resting on the slide. As the movement is continued, the discharge member is turned and the slot 47 is moved around, while the slot 29 continues to move outward, and when the two slots are in alinement with each other, the cigar falls through to the chute 30. During the turning movement the plates 44 and 45 and the cigar in position in the slot 47 serve to prevent the discharge of any of the cigars in the passage between the cigar box and the bars 77, and after the knob is released and the spring returns the movable discharge member to its initial position, the cigars in the passage way will still be supported until slot 47 is in alinement with the passage, whereupon the lowermost cigar will fall into the slot and rest on the slide 26. During the outward movement of the slot, lugs serve by engagement with the spring 91 to move the bars 80 from the position shown in full lines, to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, and during the return movement the bars 84 are actuated, being moved from the full line position to the dotted line position of Fig. 8, so that the cigars in the magazine will be agitated, and caused to move in the direction of the passage way.

In the machine as constructed, outward movement of the discharge slide 26 is prevented by a coin controlled locking bar 100, pivoted. on one of the cross bars, and having its lower end passing through a slot 101 in the rear portion of the slide 26, said locking bar being held from movement until a coin or check of proper value is inserted in one or other of the coin slots.

To the rear ends of the side plates is secured a transversely extending bar 102 having a bracket 103 from which projects a stud 104 adapted for the support of a toothed wheel 105, the latter in the present instance taking the form of two disks 107 and 108 that are connected together by cross pins 109 of any desired number, six pins being shown in the present instance. These pins are engaged by a pawl 110 pivoted to the locking bar 100, and said pawl carries a bar 111 forming, in connection with the pawl, an elongated slot for the reception of one end of a lever 112 that is pivoted on a standard 113, projecting from the bar 102. The opposite end of this lever is connected by a link 114 to one end of a lever 115 that is pivoted on a pin 116 carried by the bar 102, and having its outer end extending over a coin rest 118 carried by one of the flanges 27 of slide 26. This coin rest is provided with a curved rib 120 between which and the lever 115 the coin, in this case a nickel, is deposited. As soon as the slide is pulled forward, it carries with it the coin rest, and the coin is forced under the lever 115, raising the latter, and this movement is imparted through the mechanism described to the lever 112 and the pawl, said pawl being moved up out of engagement with the pin 109 with which it is in contact and permitting rearward movement of the pawl with the locking bar 100, so that the slide 26 may move to the limit of its stroke and effect the discharge of a cigar. The preliminary move- \ment necessary to operate the lever 115 I through the medium of the coin is permitted by slightly elongating the slot 101, as will be seen on reference to Fig. 10.

To render the lock effective, it is necessary to lock the pins 110 from movement, an this is accomplished in the present instance by providing a deep notch 122 in the peri hery of the disk 107, and said disk is furt er provided with a series of ratchet teeth 123, which, in connection with the wall of the slot 122, form six teeth. With the. deep notch engages a locking block 124, carried by a spring elevated lever 125, and is pivoted to the bar 102. The upper end of the lever is arranged over a coin rest 118, of a construction similar to the coin rest 118, but in this case is designed to receive a quarter dollar, and the machine is arranged to permit of the discharge of six cigars each time a quarter dollar is inserted.

With a quarter in position in the coin rest.

118 forward movement of the disk which is attached to tne slot 1.26, will raise the outer end of the lever 125, and withdraw the looking block 124 from the notch 122 of the looking disk. The forward movement of the slide may then be continued, and, during this movement for the discharge of one cigar, the pawl, being in engagement with one of the pins 109, will move the disk to the extent of one-sixth of a revolution, so that the notch 122 is" moved from alinement with the block 124. The machine may now be operated five times, effecting in all the discharge of six cigars, and at the end of the final or sixth movement the notch 122 is again brought into alinement with the block 124, and the latter is forced up into engagement with the notch and locks the slide from further movement.

It will thus be seen that the machine may be arranged to deliver one cigar, or other article for one coin, such as a nickel, and a number of cigars or other articles for a coin of greater value, and while the machine is shown in the present instance as intended for the delivery of six five cent cigars for twentyfive cents, the employement of two deep notches in the disk 107 will permit the discharge of only three cigars for twenty-five cents, while instead of inserting a nickel at the opposite side, a die may be inserted for the discharge of a ten cent cigar.

In constructing the device it is preferred to employ a separate drawer or receptacle in which the coins are dropped from the supports, and to provide the same with a separate lock distinct from that by which access may be gained to the magazine, so that one person may renew the supply of cigars or other articles, while another carries the key to the money drawer.

Having thus is claimed is 1. In a vending machine, the combination described the invention, what with a reservoir, of a pivotally mounted discharging member having an article receiving slot arranged in communication with the reservoir and in position to receive the lowermost article therefrom, and means for turning the discharging member until the slot and the article to be discharged cross the plane of the remaining articles in the reservoir, the article being discharged forming a partial support for the remaining articles in the reservoir.

2. In a vending machine, the combination with a reservoir, of a pivotally mounted discharge plate arranged at the bottom of the reservoir and having an article receiving slot, and means for turning said plate on its pivot to move the slot into a plane oblique to the receiving position, .the plate serving during this movement as a supporting means for the remaining articles in the reservoir.

3. The combination in a vending machine, of a reservoir, a discharging member having an elongated article receiving slot, and means for turning said member and moving the article to a discharging position, the article being discharged being turned to cross the plane of the remaining articles in the reservoir, and acting as a partial support for said articles during the discharging movement.

4. In a vending machine, the combination with a reservoir, of a pivotally mounted discharging member comprising a pair of plates, the adjacent edges of which are turned to form flanges, and the flanges being spaced to constitute the walls of an article receiving slot, and an adjustable means connecting said plates and serving to vary the width of the slot.

5. In a vending machine, the combination. with a reservoir, of a discharging member comprising a pair of adjustably connected plates, the adjacent walls of which are flanged and spaced to form an article receiving slot, a supporting means for said discharging member, and means for turning said member from receiving to discharging posi tion.

6. In a vending machine, the combination 1th a reservoir, of a discharging member comprising a pair of plates, the adjacent edges of which are flanged, and spaced to,

form anarticle receiving slot, threaded pins and nuts forming adjustable connections between the end portions of the plates, springs tending to separate said ing pivot on which said discharging member is movable from receiving to discharging position.

7. The combination in a vending machine, of a reservoir, a pivotally mounted discharging member having an article receiving slot, a slide arranged below said member, and on which the article is supported while in the slot, means for turning the discharging member, and an article adjustable carrier on l l l l plates, and a supportwhich said discharging member is supported to permit adjustment of the distance between the discharging member and slide in accordance with the diameter of the article.

8. The combination in a vending machine, of a reservoir, a pivotally mounted discharging member having a receiving slot, a slotted late arranged below said discharging member, a cross bar having end flanges, said bar serving as a support for the discharging member, a frame having a plurality of o enings, pins carried by the flanges of the ar and adapted to said openings, and means for locking the bar in adjusted position.

9. In a vending machine, the combination with a reservoir, of a pivotally mounted discharging member having spaced flanges forming an article receiving slot, a slotted slide for transmitting movement to the discharging member, and a lug carried by said slide and arranged to engage one of the flanges of the discharging member.

10. In a vending machine, the combination with a reservoir, of a pivotally mounted discharging member, a support to which the discharging member is pivoted, a spring engagin the pivot and tending to restore the disc iarging member to an initial position after each operation, a slotted slide arranged below the discharging member, means for moving the slide, and means carried by the slide for engaging and moving said discharging member.

11. he combination in a vending machine, of a reservoir holder having a pair of adjustable side walls, each comprising spaced plates arranged for the reception of the walls of the reservoir, and reservoir supporting strips arranged between said plates.

12. In a vending machine, a reservoir su port comprising a pair of adjustable side walls, each formed of a pair of plates spaced for the reception of the reservoir wall, said side walls being slotted for the reception of a detachable partition forming the rear wall of the reservoir.

13. In a vending machine, a reservoir having an inclined bottom comprising a plurality of spaced bars pivoted at their lower ends and forming a grating, a discharging means for swinging the grating on its pivot, and a second grating carried by the first and also forming a part of said bottom, the second grating being moved independently of the first on the return movement of the discharging member.

14. In a vending machine, a reservoir having an inclined. bottom formed of a pair of pivotally mounted gratings, and means 0perable on each discharging operation for moving said gratings.

15. The combination in a vending ma chine, of a reservoir having an inclined bottom formed of a pair of pivoted gratings, one of which is carried by the other, means operable on outward movement of the discharg- I ing means for moving both gratings, and means serving on the return movement 0 the discharging means for moving one of said gratings.

16. In a vending machine, a reservoir having an inclined bottom formed of a pair of gratings, one of which is pivoted to a per manent support while the second grating is pivoted to the first, a discharge slide having a lug for operating both gratings on its outward movement, and for moving the secondary grating on its inward movement.

17. The combination in a vending machine, of a reservoir having an inclined bottom formed of a pair of gratings, one of which is pivoted to a permanent support, the second grating being pivoted to the first, a spring connecting the two gratings and hav-, ing a pendent ortion, and a discharging means having a ug for engaging such endent portion during its movement to an discharging positions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence oi two witnesses:

LESLIE ASBURY VANDIVER.

Witnesses:

TOM. D. VViLsoN, JAS. W. CASH.

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